Vacuum cleaner



D. M. DOW

VACUUM CLEANER Jan. 30, 1940.

INVENTOR 29g/H nljw BY Patented Jan. so, 1940' UNITED STATES VACUUMCLEANER Dewey M. Dow, Toledo, Ohio, assigner to Air- Way ElectricAppliance Corporation, Toledo,

Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application' March a, 1936, sei-iai No.66,882

Claims.

arrangement in which the motor is positioned above a suction chamberwith its axis parallel to lthe axis of the suction chamber; i. e., inwhich both axes lie transverse of the cleaner as a whole.

'I'he cleaner embodies a casing member which extends generally tangentto both motor and suction chamber. The adjacent regions of motor andsuction chamber being of .cylindrical or substantially cylindricalformation a roughly prismatic space is thus formed between the adjacentwall regions of suction chamber, motor, and cover casing, which spaceIaccommodates the headlight and its 'reflecting and mounting mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement wherein theheadlight is readily accessible without providing for it a separatedetachable cover or grill.4 This is accomplished by making the covercasing readily detachable, such detachability serving to provide accessnot only to the headlight and its mounting but-also to the' powertransmitting mechanism connecting the motor to the rotary agitator withwhich the cleaner is equipped. It also serves to provide access to thepower transmitting-'mechanism for connecting the motor to the fan, whichis mounted on an axis separate to that of the motor.

Another object. of the invention is to provide a reflecting visor fordirecting the light rays from the headlight downwardly upona carpetbeing cleaned without providing a separate member for such purpose. Tothis end the reflecting visor is made integrally with the lower end ofthe bumper which protects the cover casing against damage from impactwith furniture, etc. Other objects will appear during the p'erusa of thefollowing detailed description of the inven-v 50 tion in connection withthe accompanying draw- .l ing in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of avacuum cleaner embodying the invention,

through the cleaner,

Fig. 2 is a center longitudinal sectional view PA'rlazNrv OFFICE alsaosFig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the combined bumper andhead lightvisor,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the headlight lamp and its reector, v

Fig. 5 is an end view of the same,

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through the bumper taken on theline 6-6 of Fig. l,

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view of the bump taken on the line 'l-'lof Fig. 1,` and erf Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view of amodification of the visor construction.

The invention comprises a suction clean which embodies generally asuction chamber er Ay a suction producing unit B, swivelled withrelation to the suction chamber A, a rotary agitator unit C 'mounted inthe suction chamber A, an electric motor and power transmittingmechanism D for driving the fan and rotary agitator, handle assembly Erigidly attached -to the su tion mechanism B, an air filtering `and dustco1- lecting unit (not illustrated), conversion mechanism F Fig. 1 forchanging the cleaner from onrloor to ofi-floor operation, a removablecover unit G including bumper mechanism, the headlight assembly H, andfloor wheel mechanism I for'sup porting the entire assembly fortravelling over the surface to be cleaned. I

'I'he suction chamber A is formed between the casting I0 and a removablesheet metal botto plate Il. The forward region' of the casting andtheformer in the form of a sheath secured extremity an upward bentiiange I6 by means which it is riveted at I'I to the forward wall theagitator chamber I2. The rivets also serve of of to secure a peripheralbumper I8 to the agitator chamber I2.

In' the chamber I2 is mounted the rotary agitator C which comprises ahollow spindle I9 with brush elements and exible beater elements 2|mounted therein. A guard 22 has two spaced members projected across themouth oi the su tion chamber and is sprung into hooking engag ment withbuttons 23 in' thev respective lips and I 4.

A 'I'he upper wall of the suction chambercastng I0 is depressed'in aregion intermediate its en to accommodate the motor housing 24.'

Rearwardly of the motor housing 24 the su tion chamber is bifurcated toform two tubular portions 25 integral with the upper wall portion l0 andterminating in a horizontal plane 26 in upwardly facing openings. A pairof ducts 21 are secured to the bifurcated portions 25 of the suctionchamber in the plane 26 as by coacting flanges 28 bolted together at 29.The ducts 21 extend upwardly and rearwardly and terminate in elbows 30directed toward each other. The suction mechanism B includes a fanhousing 3| having dual opposed inlets 32 in swivelling connection withthe elbows 30. The housing 3| is made of stamped sheet metal in twohalves which vare secured together by interlocking peripheral anges 33.A partition wall 34 divides the housing 3| into two fan chambers. Thepartition 34 is peripherally secured between the interlocking flanges 33and has a central opening 35 in which is mounted the double impeller 36providing air driving means in each of the two f an chambers. Theimpeller 36 is mounted on a shaft 31 which is journalled in therespective ducts 21 and which extends through and beyond said ducts andis there provided with pulleys 38-38.

The driving mechanism D includes the motor 39 built into the housing 24and having a shaft 40 projecting from-both ends f the housing andprovided with pulleys 4| and 4| a which are connected by belts 42-42 tothe respective pulleys 38-38. Formed integrally with the pulley 4|z is asmaller pulley 43 which drives the pulley 44 -on the agitator AspindleI9 by means of a belt 45.

'I'he discharge outlet 46 of the fan housing 3| is formed in two halvesintegral with the two halves o-f the housing. The partition 34 is cutaway at 41 in the discharge outlet 46 to allow the two air streams tocome together. To secure an eilicient designv of discharge outlet andair cut-oliV I provide a cut-oli wedge 48 formed of sheet metal weldedor riveted to the partition 34.

The handle assembly- E comprises a tubularv handle 49 which ispreferably of aluminum with inner and outer steel ferrules 50v and 5|respectively reenforcing its lower ends. 'Ihe outer reeni'orcing ferrule5| is formed integrally with a pair of skirt members 52 projectingdownwardly and spaced just sufhciently to receive a. pair of ears 53formed integrally with the respective halves of the fan housingV outlet46 and projecting upwardly. Bolts 54 project through the skirt members52 and ears 53 and secure them together. Engagement of the skirt members52 with the periphery of the fan housing 3| aids in bracing the handleinv its engagement with the fan housing.

'A cord shield 55 embraces the entire assembly of ferrule 5|, skirt 52and vears 53, and projects forwardly around a portion o-f the peripheryof the fan housing 3| on an arc concentric with the axis of the shaft31. Current is conveyed to -the motor 39 through av short motor cord 56extended partially around the fan housing 3| and supported against theperiphery thereof Whichacts Aas a reel. To a laterally extending.portion of the cord 51, extending from the point where it enters themotor housing 24,1 may be `vsecured one endof va spring 5,8 .the other:end of Hwhich is secured .to the casting I0 of the-suction chamber Asthe han'dlelis lifted, the section 51 of the cord will loop downwardlybeing pulled taut by the 'spring 58 if a spring is used or sim- Plyhanging under its own weight if a spring is not use lEither method maybe employed successfully.v l`An intermediate region of the cord issecured to the fan housing by a staple 59 which holds itin engagementwith the fan housing and the opposite end of the cord is provided with aseparable connector plug 60 which is plugged into a socket or femaleelement 6| mounted in the lower end of the ferrule 50.

Current is conveyed to the element 6| by a cord 62 connected thereto andextended through the handle.

Sockets 63 for receiving the lower ends of the bag supporting rods (notshown) are formed integrally with the4 ears 53 and project laterallytherefrom.

According to the herein claimed invention, a. roughly prismatic space 64is formed between the motor housing 24, kthe suction chamber casting 0'and the cover G, such space extending transversely between a side wall65 of the cover G and a. partition 66"(Fig. 1) which separates the spacein which the belt 45 is housed from the motor compartment. In the space64 is se' cured the headlight mounting 61 which is formed of sheet metaland includes a pair of feet 68 screwed down upon the top of the suctioncham.-

. ber casting I0 by screws 69, and a semi-cylindrical hood portion.10 inwhich is secured the reflector 1 I. The latter is formed of a thin sheetof stainless steelwelded to the hood portion 10. Formed integrally withthe mounting 61 and projecting upwardly between the feet 68 is a bracket12 terminating in a downwardly inclined ear having a threaded opening 14to receive a securing screw 15 for securing the forward end of the coverG.

Also formed integrally with the mounting 61, spaced from one end of thehood 10, is a clip 16 in which is held the socket 11 of the headlightlamp 18. The socket 11 may be either welded or soldered to the clip 16or simply held frictionally. Spot welding is preferred. The lamp 18 isthreaded into the socket 11 in the conventional manner and the socket 11receives current from a conductor attached to the brush terminals of themotor 59 and held preferably by the same binding posts that secure thewires of the conduit 51. These brush terminal binding posts are notshown, but are of a conventional construction.

The cover G is formed of drawn sheet metal and includes a top wall 80,aI forward inclined wall 8|, a curved wall portion 82 joining the por-`tions 80 and 8| and curved on the same radius as the periphery of themotor case 24, and end wall portions 65. The latter are stepped fordecorative purposes and ta form belt housing which does not require thevheight of space that is required by the motor housing 24. The end wallregion 65 on one side ofthe cover is cut away opposite. `the upperregion of the agitator...

belt 45 `and is provided with a detachable belt cover 83 which allowsaccess to that belt without detaching the cover G.

The rear region of the cover G isv cut away to form a centrallongitudinal slot s4 through which the-fan housing 3| projects. vTheedge regionof the cover wall 80 defining the slot 84 is beaded as at84a. The bifurcated portions of the cover thus formed coverthe ducts 30.

The lower marginaledges of the cover G lie in the plane 26 inengagementwith the marginal region of the casting Ill surrounding thedepression in which the motor housing 24 is accommo dated, which latter'marginal region also lies in the plane 26. A portion at least ofthismarginal region of the casting |.0 is provided with an upstanding-ange86 around which the edge region tending longitudinally along the-central region of the cover from the light opening around the curvedbrow portion 82 and back to the fan housing slot 84. The bumper 89is.vulcanized toa metal backing strip 90 which in turn is secured to thewall portions 80, 8|, and 82 of the cover by means of a tongue 9| formedon the edges of the.

strip 90, projected through slots in the cover, and bent fiat againstthe under surface of the cover.

The plate 90 may cover the entire underface" of the visor 88 as shown inFig. 8 in which case it would be formed as a conic section archedupwardly, or it may be cut awayA so as to leave just two lingers 92vulcanized to the edge regions of the visor 88 as shown in Fig. 3, whichshows in inverted plan View of the visor shown in Fig. 2.v The visor inthis case is preformed with the upwardly arched conic section shape andall metal portions are in direct contact with the cover wall 80, 8|, and82.l 'I'his form of the invention has the advantage over that shown inFig. 8 in that a softer and thinner metal may be used for the backingstrip without danger of deformation of the visor. Should the cleaner berun against a piece of furniturev in such a position as to 'impose theimpact against the visor thel latter would 1 simply collapse to theplane of the coverland would spring back to its normal position as soonas the contact was severed.

'I'he inner face of the visor Figs. 2 and 3 is iinishedwith a white oraluminum paint so as to reflect the light from the lamp 18 downwardlyupon the surface beingcleaned. In the form shown in Fig. 8 thereflecting surface, of course, is provided on the metal strip 90.

1 For decorative purposes it is desirable to provide longitudinalstripes in the bumper G. The latter is finished in a common black rubberfinish and stripes are desirable of a contrasting bright metallic 'nish.To avoid striping with a paint brushand to give a sharper contrast Iprovide a metal wire insert 94, embedded in grooves 95 in the bumper 89.The insert 94 is U shaped and is held in place by a staple 96 extendedthroughv its return bend portion and through thebacking plate 90 and thecover wall 8| and its ends bent over. The ends of the insert 84 havedownwardly hooked portions -9| (Fig. 7) which are extended throughopenings 98 in the bumper and cover wall 80 and hooked under the latter.

The conversion mechanism F although not claimed herein will be brieflydescribed. It comprises a flat valve secured to a shaft |0| extendedthrough the side walls of the casting I0 just forwardly of the regionwhere the latter branches into two forkedvportlons 25. To the outer endof the shaft |0| is secured an arm |02 in which is slidably mounted apin. |08 carrying a cover plate |04 which normally is springpressedagainst and into the mouth of the cylindrical auxiliary inletcommunicating with one of the forked regions 25 of the suction chamber.l

ber fork 25 opposite By pulling the pin |03 outwardly the cover |04 isdisengaged from the mouth of the inlet |05 and the lever |02 may thencebe moved upwardly so as to bring the valve |00 downwardly to the dottedline position shown and simultaneously to allow the coupling of anauxiliary tool hose to the inlet |05. When in this position, the cover|04 may be allowed to move into engagement with a suitable depression inthe end wall 65 of the cover -G to hold the valve in the dotted lineposition, or the cover may be held in such position by .the auxiliarytool hose. The suction is thereby cut off from the agitator chamber I2and a narrow communicating passage is established between the forks 25whereby the suction of both fans is applied to the inlet |05.

In a` modified form of the invention which is not illustrated in thedrawings the valve |00 is positioned to completely cut off one of theforks 25 so that the suction applied to the auxiliary tool hose is onlythat of one fan. This has theV Since the invention contemplates theprovision of a much higher suction for carpet cleaning purposes than iscustomarily achieved in convenof which is an intermediate position forallowing some air to enter through the suction mouth of the agitatorchamber so as to reduce the suction applied against the inlet |05. Inthis way, varying degrees of suction for auxiliary cleaning areobtainable.

The iloo'r wheel mechanism I includes forward wheels |08 journalled insockets |01 formed integrally with, the casting I0, and rear wheels |08mounted in a sheet metal bracket |09 which has a portion ||0 loopedaround a mounting shaft and secured thereto by tongues ||2 struck fromthe loop l0 and extending into the groove in the shaft closed positionby a boltor bolts 3.

The shaft is journalled in bearings ||4 formed on the respective forks25 of the suction chamber and bearing caps detachably secured thereto.The shaft may be rotated to any of several selective positions ofadjustment and held in any of such,positions by a lever and detentmechanism ||8 such as that shown in United States Patent No. 2,102,221.The detent sector is secured to the suction chamthat which carries theinlet |05.

The motor housing 24 is mounted upon the suction chamber casting |0through the medium of resilient rubber sandwich mountings including arcshaped strips of metal ||1 and ||8 respectively secured to the ends ofthe motor housing 24 and to brackets ||9 which aremounted upon ledgesforming part of the hereinbefore mentioned margin region of the casting|0 surrounding the depression in which the motor housing 24 is received.The metal plates ||1 and ||8 are vulcanized to and connected by rubbercushions |20 carrying the .full load of the motor.

I claim as my invention:

v1. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber in- 'Ihe loop ||0 is4 clampedin' cluding, a transverse agitator chamber, a motor mounted on top ofthe suction chamber, its axis parallel to that of "the agitator chamber,a casing member covering said motor and part of said suction chamber,said casing member including a, forward downwardly inclined wall roughlytangent to the motor and agitator chamber and forming a roughlyprismatic space .therebetween, a headlight mounted on the top wall ofthe suction chamber and disposed in said space, said casing having anopening in its forward wall, a visor fitting over said opening, saidvisor including a flexible metal element and a rubberv bumper fittedover said metal element and extending centrally over said Wall andterminating at the rear edge of the casing member, said opening lyingsubstantially opposite said light such that light may be emitted throughsaid opening.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber including a transverseagitator chamber, a motor mounted on top of the suction chamber, itsaxis parallel to that of the agitator chamber, a casing member coveringsaid motor and part of said suction chamber, said casing member inlcluding a forward downwardly inclined wall roughly tangent to the motorand agitator chamber forming a roughly prismatic space therebetween, aheadlight mounted on said chamber in said space, said casing having anopening in its `forward inclined wall through which light is emitted anda visor extending over said opening and secured to the casing, saidvisor comprising a flexible metal element and a soft rubber bumperelement fitted over a said metal element, said bumper element extendingup said inclined wall and over the toplof the casing, and terminating atthe rear edge of the casing.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a iloor tool, a motor on said oor tool, said oortool provided with an upwardly projecting motor cover, a bumper securedto the forward central face of said cover and extending rearwardly ofthe cover, a head' light visor formed integrally with one end ofA saidbumper, said cover having an opening directly below said visor, saidbumper an'd visorl comprising a soft rubber element disposed upon ametallic strip and both secured to said cover, and illuminating meansdisposed beneath the cover in registry with said opening.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a oor tool, a motor on said floor tool, saidfloorl tool providedwith an upwardly projecting motor cover, ,a bumpersecured to the forward central face of said cover and extendingrearwardly of the cover, a flexible metallic headlight visor formedintegrally with one end of said bumper, said cover having an openingdirectly below said visor and illuminating means disposed beneath thecover in registry with .said opening, said bumper being of soft rubberand said bumper and said visor adapted to collapse against the coverunder impact and to spring back to its normal position when freed fromcontact with the impactedobject.

5. In a vacuum cleaner including a floor tool and a motor and having acover for the motor and a light source, the combination, a visorextending over an opening in the forward part of said cover to emit,light therethrough, said Visor comprising a soft flexible rubbermaterial and a llexible metallic element, supported on a metal stripsecured to the cover land both said rubber and said llexible metallicelement adjusted to return to normal position following distortionthereof by impact with a non-yielding object.

DEWEY M. DOW.

